Double-twist twisting device



Sept. 20, 1949.

J. K. COCHRAN ETAL DOUBLE-TWIST TWISTING DEVICE Filed Feb; 7, 1948 IN VEN TORS I John K Cochran Jacob fisfer BY 9A MZ7 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept.20, 1949 DOUBLE-TWIST TWISTING DEVICE John Kermit Cochran, Conyngham,and Jacob Piister, Hasleton, Pa., assignors to The Duplan Corporation,Hazleton,

Delaware Pa., a corporation of Application February 7, 1948, Serial No.6,906

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus 10 handling, treating, andtranslating filamentary material, such as yarn, and more particularly toapparatus for spinning or twisting yarn, such as double-twist spinningmachine assemblies.

In certain double-twist yarn spinning machines known to the art, ahollow rotating spindle supports the yarn package or bobbin and rotateswithin a non-rotating yarn package carrier inassociation with a storageor takeup disc in such manner that two turns of twist are inserted inthe yarn for each revolution of the spindle. In operation, thesemachines accomplish their purpose by leading the yarn or otherfilamentary material from the yarn package through a guide and over thetop of the yarn package, thence down through the center of the yarnpackage, out of the spindle shaft and to a rotating storage disc belowthe package, thence up and outside the yarn package through a yarnguide, and finally to a takeup spool or package. These machineseffectively-impart the desired twist tov the yarn, but under abnormalconditions, as when accidents occur, the machines are subject to damagewhich is extremely costly to property and dangerous td the operator orpassersby.

In the normal operation of double-twist spinning machines, the yarnpackage is relatively stationary and does not rotate with the spindlewhich rotates inside the package carrier. It is common pactice toprovide a yarn package carrier or platform with ball bearings whichengage the spinning spindle, and to prevent rotation of the platform orcarrier by magnetism, gravity or other appropriate means to precludeundue rotation of the platform. A customary expedient to prevent therotation of the package in normal operation is to tilt the spindle awayfrom the vertical and to provide a weight in the base of the packageplatform, so that gravity tends to keep the package in the stationary ornon-rotating position. In actual operation, however, it happens fromtime to time that the yarn package carrier accelerates and rotates withthe spindle at a dangerously high speed. This occurs sometimes when theoil or grease in the ball bearings disappears or becomes fouled, or theparts become distorted, or for other reasons. As soon as the yarnpackage begins to rotate, and especially at high speeds, violent forcesof unbalance are set into play and parts of the machine at times may bethrown away from and off the rapidly rotating assembly.

The present invention obviates the dificulties and disadvantages setforth above. This apparatus also avoids certain other prior dlflicultieswhich have been encountered when the filament .strand or yarn wasbroken. Previously, when the strand or yarn was broken, the apparatuscontinued to operate and the yarn became snarled.

, not rotate 1 i because of a weight 1 and bearings secured the i;

The present invention provides for automatic disengagement and stoppingof the twisting spindle: as well as of the takeup spool, as soon as theyarn has become broken. The mechanism of the invention also operateswhen the'tension of the yarn is reduced below the amount required tohold the mechanism in operating position. The invention also providesfor intentionally breaking the yarn, thereby relieving the tension andstopping the machine when the yarn package rotates rapidly enough to seteffective centrifugal forces into play. r

The foregoing and further objects of the invention will be understood byreference to the drawing, in. which Figure 1 is a side elevationalviewof yarn twisting and translating apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top view of the movable yarn guide and associated lockingelement; s Figure 3 is a plan view of the tip of the yarn packagecarrier shaft with an intercepting ele ment in operating position andwith the fiyer removed? v Figure 4 is a cross-section of the top portionof the yarn package carrier shaft and associated,

palts in the non-intercepting or normal position; Figure 5 is across-section on line 5-5 of Figure 3 similar to Figure 4, with theintercepting element in operative position.

Although it is to be understood that'this invention relates toand isapplicable to various types of yarn treating a particular embodimentthereof is shown with respect to a, double-twist spinning machine.Referring to Figure 1, a spinning spindle assembly i, known in the art,comprises a spring-held bolster 2 in which is rotatably mounted aspindle. as is known in the art, 'on which is fitteda whorl 3 and a yarnstorage or takeup disc 4, both of by suitable driving means such as abelt 5. The upper portion of the spindlewhich are driven assembly Isupports a yarn package platform, (indicated by dotted lines) whichnormally due with the shaft of the spindle assembl therein. The weight,by force of gravitywhe spindle is in tilted position, preventsrotationcoffi and confines the movement, 1,: thereof to a restricteddegree of oscillation. A

the package platform packagev 8 of yarn 9 rests on the platform 6, andissurmounted by a collar ii supporting a fiyc l2- which conveniently maybe light strips oi stiff wire looped at the ends thereof. The fiyer, asis well known, may be surrounded to prevent tangling of the yarn whenthe appa-- ratus is started. The normally fixed package platform 6 alsosupports an intercepting element it, which, as shown in Figure 1,,comprisesan upstanding coil spring surmounted by and supand translatingapparatus,

by a ring or fjcage, w

assaoce by virtue of the weighted portion i4 being impelled away frompackage 3 and across the yarn close proximity to the yarn path oftravel.

In normal operation, the whorl e is in driving A engagement with thebelt 5, causing a shaft with-. in the spindle l to rotate together withthe storage disc ii, in known manner. A strand of the yarn is taken oilthe yarn package 8 and fed through the eye or loop at the end of theflyer l2, and into the tip of a hollow shaft which supports the packageon the package platform. The end of the yarn then internally traversesthe entire length of the bobbin or package through the center of theshaft thereof and is led out, in normal manner understood by thoseskilled in the art, on to the storage disc 4. When th ma chine isoperating at normal speeds, the yarn 9 forms a "balloon" between thestorag disc 4 and yarn guide H, the yarn at one point in the balloonbeing shown at l8, and is le through a fixed yarn guide I], and thencethrough a movable yarn guide l8. From the yarn guide iii, the

strand-9 is guided at l9, for example, by a loop of wire, on to a takeupspool or bobbin 2| and there collected. The spool or bobbin 2| isconveniently supported by angle arm 22. In this type of double-twistapparatus, the initial twist is inserted in the yarn between the supplypackage and the storage disc 4, due to the rotation of the spindleblade, and additional twist is inserted by the rotation between thestorage disc 4 and the guide II. The twisted yarn collected on thetakeup spool or bobbin 2i is then ready for further processing or fordelivery to the customer upon dismounting the spool or bobbin from itssupport.

In the particular embodiment of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1, anupright frame member 3| carries a rigid slide 32, which may be suitablybraced as at 33. A movable or slidable base 34 supports the spindleassembly I which extends through an opening in the top of the base toaccommodate the bolster 2. The slide 32 is provided with an elongatedslot (not shown) through which the spindle bolster extends and whichpermits longitudinal movement of the spindle assembly together with thebase 44 along the slide but without disengagement therefrom. The base 34comprises, as is known in the art, a flat top surface 35 and two sideportions 38 integral therewith and adapted to track along the side facesof the slide 32. In order to prevent the base 34 from upwardlydisengaging the slide 32, the lower edge of the side panels 36 arepreferably understruck so that at least a'portlon of the interior ofeach of the four sides of the base 34 is in sliding en agement with eachof the four exterior sides of the slide 32.

tact engagement with the belt 8. The shaft 4|.

is journaled near one endin a bracket 42 and near the other end'in thefixed slide 32. Atthe top of the shaft 4| a handle 43 is keyed topermit. manual rotation of the shaft, and adjacent thereto, also keyedto the shaft, is a locking disc 44 having a locking notch 45 in theperiphery thereof.

The bracket 52 also supports a cross bracket at which is rivetedthereto. The cross bracket 65 has an arm 5'! which supports the wireyarn guide i! by any suitable means, such as by a screw or bolt, andalso carries a pivot shaft 59. A movable yarn guide support 49 rocks onthe shaft 48 (see Figures 1 and 2) and is bifurcated to accommodate apin 51 carrying the movable yarn guide I8. A spring 52 is connectedbetween a point 53 on the guide support 49 and a point 54 .on the crossbracket 46. The action of the spring 52 tends to impel the yarn guide [8upwardly against the tension of the yarn 9 when the machine is inoperation; and when the yarn 9 is broken or disengaged from the yarnguide l8, the guide. support 49 is moved upwardly by the spring 52.

The opposite key and of the guide support 49 normally engages the notch45 in the looking disc 44. When the yarn guide I8 is in the inoperativeposition, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, the movement thereofdisengages the opposite key end 50 of the support 49 from the lockingdisc 44 and permits the spring 38 to rotate the shaft 4| and hence arm39 to a lower position, thereby lowering the base 34 along the slide 32.The sliding movement of the base 34 is caused'by gravity after releaseof the tension of .r the spring 38, and also by oscillation of theresiliently-mounted spindle assembly.

It is obvious that the details of construction of the movable yarn guidel9 and the supports therefor may be varied as desired. For example, asshown in Fig. 6, the fixed yarn guide 11' may be mounted independentlyof the supports for the movable yarn guide, and instead of utilizing thespring 52, the pivot shaft 48' may be positioned close tothe guide [8and distant from the key 58 so that the normal tension of the yarn 9'operates against gravity. With this arrangement, when the yarn is brokenor otherwise disengaged, the force of gravity will operate against thelever arm 49' to withdraw the key portion 50' thereof from the notch45'.

As the base 94 travels along the slide 32, which is what happens whenthe apparatus is in the inoperative position, as when the yarn 9 isbroken, the whorl 3 is disengaged from the driving element 5. A fixedbumper or brake 8| is positioned in the path of longitudinal travel ofthe whorl 3 and operates frictionally to stop the spinning whorl'uponrelease of the base 94 from the normal operating position.

The takeup spool 2l ma be arranged in any convenient manner, but it ispreferred to provide a frame 83 supporting a driving roll or wheel.

- providing a disengaging arm 85 rigidly secured position so that thewhorl 3 is held in driven conto the base 34, and hence slidabletherewith. The frame 83 conveniently supports the fixed yarn guide l9and also pivotally (at 88) carries the angle arm 22 supporting the spool2|. The opposite end 61 of the arm 22 is arranged in line with thedisengaging arm 89, so that when the base 34 shifts to the inoperativeposition, the arm 88 travels diagonally downwardly to abut the arm end87! and thereby to disengage the reel 2| from the drive wheel 84, asshown in dotted position in Figure 1.

aseaess The intercepting element or yarn interceptor l3, as shown inFigure 1 in solid lines, ignormally out of the path of travel of theballoon of yarn it. However, when the platform 6 begins to rotate, theinterceptor [3, which is preferably weighted at the end, is thrown intothe yarn path It and breaks the yarn to relieve the tension at the yarnguide l8, and hence to stop the motion. The interceptor may be otherwiseconstructed as shown in Fig. 7, by providt'ing a sharp-edged strip 13'of spring metal, such as spring steel, supporting the weight it, so thatin the operating or intercepting position a cutting action is applied tothe yarn balloon 16'. The interceptor I3 effectively and rapidly stopsthe machine whenever the yarn package begins to rotate at sufllcientspeed to throw the interceptor into the path of the yarn. In the eventof a condition arising which initiates rotation of the yarn package 8,the interceptor l3 on platform 6 tends to, travel at increasingly higherspeeds. At these intermediate speeds, the interceptor, is travelling ata slower rate of rotation than the takeup disc I, and thereforetraverses, and hence cuts or breaks, the yarn inits path.

It is obvious that other stopping arrangements for the apparatus may beemployed, and that so long as it is the breakage of the yarn which setsthe stop motion in operation, the interceptor 13 will function according.to the invention.

An alternative centrifugal intercepting element is shown in Figures 3,4, and 5. The top of the yarn package or bobbin supporting shaft H(which is, in turn, a part of, or supported by, the platform 6 ofFigure 1) is provided with a hollow projection 12 having a transverseacentric slot 13 and an intercepting pin 14 slidable in and out of theslot. The slot is long enough to accommodate a substantial portion ofthe length of the pin, as shown in Figure 4; and, as shown in Figure 5,the pin 14 is suiliciently long to engage the flier 15 when in theoperative position. If desired, the pin may project slightly from theslot when in the retracted position. The flier II is supported byacollar 16 which fits over the projection 12. In normal operation, thepackage carrier does not rotate, and the flier is rotated relativelyslowly by the yarn coming off the supply package, but when the packagecarrier begins to rotate, the pin 14 is centrifugally impelled out ofthe slot 13 and engages the flier II. The flier, as in the flier l2shown in Figure 1, is provided at its end with a yarn guiding loop orpigtail (not shown), and when its normal rotation in relation to theyarn package is impeded, breakage of the yarn results and sets the stopmotion apparatus into operation, as de-.

scribed. or in other manner as understood in the art.

In view of the many changes andmodiflcations that may be made withoutdeparting irom'the principles underlying the invention, reference shouldbe made to the appendedclaims for an understanding of the scope of theprotection atforded the invention.

What "is claimed is:

1. A yarn spinning apparatus comprising a driven spindle assemblyincluding a storage disc,

a yarn guide between which and said disc the yarn describes a yarn path,a normally stationary tated said interceptor being impelled bycentrifugal force across the yarn path.

2. A yarn spinning apparatus comprising a rotatable spindle assemblyincluding a storage disc, a bobbin holder mounted on said spindle andnormally non-rotating, a yarn bobbin on said holder, a yarn guidebetween which and said disc the yarn describes a yarn path, aninterceptor supported by said bobbin holder and normally out ofengagement with the yarn path, a movable a movable yarn guide, saidguide being held in operating position by yarn tension and locking saidbase in operating position, said guide in the inoperative positionreleasing said base from operating position and permitting releasemotion of said base by gravity.

4. A yarn spinning apparatus comprising a movable support, a downwardlysloping slide for said support, a spindle mounted on said support, abobbin holder mounted on said spindle, said holder being rotatable butnon-rotating in the operative position, a driving element for saidspindle, a movable yarn guide held in the operative position by yarntension and holding said support in such position that the spindle is inengagement with said driving element, said guide when in the inoperativeposition releasing said support for motion by gravity along said slide.

yarn package carrier supported by said spindle assembly and aninterceptor supported by said carrier, said interceptor being normallypositioned out of the yarn path and when said platform is re- 5. Atwisting device for yarn comprising a movable base, a twisting spindlemounted thereon, a driving membernormally in contact with said spindle,a movable yarn guide, and a normally stationary bobbin platformsupported by said spindle, said guide being retained in the operatingposition by yarn tension and holding said spindle in contact with thedriving member, said guide in the inoperative position releasing saidbase to separate the spindle from the driving element.

6. A twisting device for yarn comprising a movable base, a twistingspindle and a spool drivedisengaging element mounted thereon, a spindledriving member normally in contact with said spindle, a movable yarnguide, a normally stationary bobbin platform supported by said spindle,a driven takeup spool, and a spool drive normally in contact therewith,said guide being retained in the operative position by yarn tension andholding said spindle in contact with the driving member, said guide inthe inoperative position releasing said base to disengage said drivingmembers respectively from the spindle and from the reel.

JOHN KERMIT COCHRAN. JACOB PFISTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the tile ofthis patent:

' 01mm sra'rms mm'rs Certificate of Correction Patent N 0. 2,482,654

JOHN KERMIT COOHRAN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 31, for pactice read practice; column 3 line'66, for arm36 September 20, 1949 readarm 3.9;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Oflioe.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of February, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

' Assistant Commissioner of Eaten;

